NBA Players Who Need a New Coach to Become an All-Star

NBA Players Who Need a New Coach to Become an All-Star

Not only the chemistry between players, but the relationship between coaches and players can make or break a team's success.

For some players, a coach and his style of play may be holding them back from reaching their full potential.

For these five players, an All-Star appearance is possible, just not under their current coach.

1. Tristan Thompson, Cleveland Cavaliers

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Head Coach: Byron Scott

Main Reason for Change: Role in offense

Scott is a fine coach, but his area of expertise has always been with point guards and not big men.

This is fine for Kyrie Irving, but not for Thompson, whose role in Cleveland's offense has been limited.

Scott prefers to keep the ball in Irving's hands, which doesn't allow many plays for Thompson in the post. During his rookie season in 2011-12, 61 percent of Thompson's scoring came off tips, dunks and layups, with only 39 percent of his scoring coming from jump shots, according to 82games.com. Of those jumpers, 45 percent were off assists.

Thompson has excelled in his role as a rebounder and defender. But his offensive opportunities have been few and far between, and that may not change under Scott.

2. Derrick Williams, Minnesota Timberwolves

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Head Coach: Rick Adelman

Main Reason for Change: The Doghouse

All men become familiar with the proverbial "doghouse" at one point or another. Williams seemingly has been working his way out of Adelman's since he arrived in Minnesota.

Despite playing in all 66 of the Timberwolves' games last season, Williams, the No. 2 overall pick in 2011, has started just 15 games. He has played just 21.3 minutes per contest, averaging 8.8 points and 4.7 rebounds.

Stuck between a small and power forward, Williams once again seemed headed for a bench role this season until an injury to starting power forward Kevin Love gave him a golden opportunity.

While Adelman started Williams, his minutes were far from consistent. Registering anywhere from 12 to 37 minutes a game, Williams actually played well when given the time to prove himself despite still receiving criticism from Adelman.

Now with Love back, Williams played just 11 minutes off the bench in a game against the Golden State Warriors, despite scoring 10 points.

3. Evan Turner, Philadelphia 76ers

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Head Coach: Doug Collins

Main Reason for Change: Not enough offensive opportunities

Collins is a great coach, but it's no secret that offense is not his priority.

Over the past three seasons with Collins as the head coach, the Sixers have ranked 16th, 24th and 24th in pace of play, according to basketball-reference.com. Their offensive rating has gone from 17th to 20th to 26th this season.

While Evan Turner is averaging a career-high 12.9 points per game, it's still well below what a third-year, second-overall pick should be putting up in nearly 34 minutes a game. The former Ohio State star is being bogged down in an offense that is run at a much slower pace than the high-octane attacks of the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns.

Playing for a team that puts more emphasis on offense would allow Turner to increase his shot attempts and scoring, making him more attractive to All-Star voters.

4. JaVale McGee, Denver Nuggets

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Head Coach: George Karl

Main Reason for Change: Lack of playing time

As of November 27th, McGee was shooting 54.3 percent from the field, swatting 1.8 shots per game and had a player efficiency rating of 23.15, fourth among all NBA centers.

So why is he playing less than 20 minutes a game, all off the bench?

Ask Karl, who doesn't seem to care that the Nuggets just gave McGee a $44 million contract this offseason.

Karl has called into question McGee's conditioning, even referring to some of his made shots as "lucky."

Kosta Koufus, who the Nuggets signed to a whopping three-year, $9 million contract, has started every game for Denver despite averaging just 6.1 points and 5.9 rebounds with a PER of 14.46.

McGee is by far the more talented player, but he isn't getting the opportunity to prove it right now under Karl.

5. Jeremy Lin, Houston Rockets

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Head Coach: Kevin McHale

Main Reason for Change: Usage

While playing for the New York Knicks last season, Lin had arguably the best job in basketball, running the point for head coach Mike D'Antoni.

Steve Nash won two MVP awards for the Phoenix Suns under the offensive-mastermind coach. D'Antoni's system heavily favored the point guard and let Lin have free reign of the offense.

In Houston, things haven't gone as smoothly.

A main reason for Lin's drop in production has been how he is being used. With the Knicks in 2011-12, Lin's usage percentage was 28.1 percent. With the Rockets, the number of team plays involving Lin has only equaled 18.1 percent.

Any point guard would miss playing in D'Antoni's offense, but maybe nobody more than Lin.